24th May 2021, Kathmandu
Due to colonial pipeline hack, the most likely to experience limited fuel availability and higher prices are Mississippi, Tennessee, and the East Coast from Georgia to Delaware.
The recent cyberattack on a critical U.S. pipeline is highlighting cybersecurity weakness. Disruptions occurred across the economy in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial pipeline used to deliver about 45% fuel along the Eastern Seaboard after a colonial pipeline hacks the system shutdown on Friday by a gang of criminal hackers called DarkSide.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COLONIAL PIPELINE?
Over the weekend, the company was forced for a safe shutdown. Meanwhile, all pipeline operations were halted. The malware (ransomware) used in the colonial pipeline hack didn’t spread to the critical systems which control the pipeline’s operation. The various other possibilities alarmed outside security experts, said the U.S. officials.
WILL THERE BE GASOLINE SHORTAGES?
There’s no shortage until now, and it won’t also depend on how long the shutdown lasts. The majority of services are likely to restore in the pipeline by Friday. If it resumes soon, there won’t be an issue. Unfortunately, if the colonial pipeline hack gets to tie up for long, supply may get low, and panic buying will start.
SO WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH GASOLINE PRICES?
According to AAA (American Accounting Association), the average gasoline prices have jumped six cents to $2.96 over the past week. It might continue climbing because of the pipeline closure. If the national average rises by three more cents, it would be the highest prices since November 2014.
WHAT’S RANSOMWARE AGAIN?
Ransomware is an attack that modifies data and information that can only be decoded with a software key after the victim pays off the criminal attackers. Usually is launched by a criminal union, so it’s hard to stop it. Biden administration officials recently considered them a national security threat. Common targets are Hospitals, schools, police departments, and state and local governments.
WHO IS BEHIND THE ATTACK?
Darkside is a Ransomware as a service (RaaS) group that offers its own brand of malware. Once established, steals data and encrypts the system using encryption protocols. It executes an encoded PowerShell command on a subscription basis to the customers to delete backups. DarkSide posted a statement on its website describing itself as “apolitical” with no interest in government business.
Darkside targeted the business side rather than the operational system. The colonial pipeline hack may have been caused because of an old unpatched vulnerability in the system. Techniques used by cybercriminals: A phishing email; use of access credentials or other methods to mess with a company’s network.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RESTORE THE COLONIAL NETWORK?
Depends on when they receive their software decryption key if they had paid the ransom. Expert says the decryption process could take several days. The attack affected the pipeline’s IT network.
